Johns Hopkins CF Center | What is CF? | What's it All About

Johns Hopkins CF Center for Teens Site

Overview
Science of CF
What's It All About?
   - Sinus
   - Lung
   - Pancreas/
     Gastrointestinal Tract
        - Pancreatic Problems
        - Diabetes Mellitus
        - Intestinal Problems
   - Liver
   - Reproductive Issues
   - Bladder
   - Muscle/Bone
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Male Reproductive System
CF affects the male reproductive system. In male CF patients, puberty is often delayed by 1 to 4 years. This late maturity occurs because sexual development hormones, follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) are affected by CF. Despite this delayed onset, over 90 percent of CF patients reach normal height.

Male CF Patient Fertility Traits
Reach sexual maturation?	Yes.
Anatomical Changes?	Vas deferens, epidiymis and seminal vesicles.
Fertile?	Only 2-3% of male CF patients are fertile.
Sperm production?	Normal production of immature sperm in testes.
Vas deferens present?	Atrophied or absent in approximately 95% of CF males.
Seminal vesicle function?	Dysfunctional; Normal maturation of sperm is impaired.
Semen production?	Reduced volume, no mature sperm, and high acid content.

An increase in the amount of fluid build up in the testes, known as hydrocele, can impair testicular function. Male CF patients are also 15 times more likely to have an undescended testicle, which increases the risk of developing cancer, whether or not it finally descends.

Compare the normal flow of sperm to the flow with CF by toggling between "Normal" and "With CF" buttons in the menu above.

Female Reproductive System
Female CF patients’ reproductive systems often have functional problems, like the absence of menstruation. Although there are no structural problems, the quality and quantity of the cervical mucus needed to attach a fertilized egg is impaired. The fertility of a female CF patient will be related to her overall health. With good health, fertility rates can approach that of the general population. Even women with severe CF disease can become pregnant.